Green getting fresh chance

If Nick Green had known a particular superstar third baseman would need hip surgery this month, …

“It’s really hard, any time you’re a free agent, it’s really hard to make a decision because you never know,” Green said.

Green joined the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in January, the sixth organization on his résumé, including two stints with the Yankees. He spent 2008 with New York’s Triple-A affiliate. In 112 games with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, he served as the shortstop for 63 games, second baseman (33), third baseman (six), right fielder (five), left fielder (three), and designated hitter (five).

He could not have known that three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez would be sidelined for the first six to nine weeks of the season. He likely would not have gotten the call, though, as Cody Ransom, Green’s shortstop backup last season, appears to be the in-house beneficiary.

“Oh, you can’t predict that stuff,” said Green, who turned 30 in September. “When I was over there before (in 2006), there were two injuries that happened. And then last year, nothing happens. So you can’t predict anything. Cody Ransom’s a good friend of mine. So, I’m happy for him. Hopefully, they’ll give him a chance.”

It wasn’t an easy decision. He thinks he could have had a better chance with a National League team. Now, Green is looking for a chance with the Sox. In nine Grapefruit League and two exhibition games, he has played second base in six, third base in four and shortstop once, substituting for Julio Lugo Tuesday against the Orioles.

“I feel like I’ve been playing good,” he said. “And I’m getting to play. I feel like if you get an opportunity to play, that’s always a good thing.”

With second baseman Dustin Pedroia playing for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, and third baseman Mike Lowell rehabbing from hip surgery, Green has had and will continue to have his opportunity to play this spring.

“He’s had a good camp,” Sox manager Terry Francona said. “It doesn’t ever ensure that you’re going to make a team, but when you come in — and we tell all the guys, like in Nick’s situation — put your best foot forward and let us make decisions. And, if there’s a time when there’s a need … Nick’s doing that right now. He’s had a great camp. He’s moving around. Got a ton of at-bats. I think the at-bats he’s gotten are almost like a reward for showing up in great shape and being ready to play, and he’s dong a great job.”

Green is batting .458 (11 for 24), with two home runs and five RBIs, slugging .792 with an on-base percentage of .519. The tweaks he made to his swing this offseason are paying early dividends.

“I feel good right now,” he said. “I’m just happy because I changed a few things hitting-wise, but I didn’t end up changing them till January-ish. Just the way I load and early in the offseason I struggled a little. I didn’t feel good, and then I was talking to Mark DeRosa and Brian McCann, trying to incorporate what they do a little bit. So I’m really happy with the way it’s gone in games.”

DeRosa and McCann were with Green in the Braves’ organization, which drafted him in the 32nd round in 1998, and Green’s identical twin brother Kevin the next year. He said the two never attempted practical jokes on their teammates, switching uniform jerseys or anything of the like. But sometimes the confusion happened on its own, as it did once when their agent couldn’t tell them apart.

“But our personalities are kind of different,” he said. “So looking at us right off the bat you couldn’t tell. But, as soon as you started talking to us you could tell.”

Now, Green is just hoping to open some eyes. Last year, he put pressure on himself, he said, which affected him at the plate, hitting .233 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. This season, he figures if he keeps his expectations low, the pressure he puts on himself will be equal.

“It’s tough to deal with if you set your expectations too high, and then you don’t fulfill them,” he said. “Over the past couple of years, I’ve learned that. So I’m going to keep it low, and if something were to happen, it’ll be great.

“I just have to remind myself everyday, at night before I got to bed and when I get up in the morning, just to forget about everything that happened the day before and just have fun and know that things are going to happen how they’re going to happen. I can’t control it.”